Weekend best bets: Mardi Gras celebrations, Globetrotters

RALEIGH, N.C. — Some Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras celebrations start this weekend along with festivals, markets, shows and more. These are our best bets.

New Orleans doesn't get to have all the fun -- there are several local Mardi Gras celebrations happening in the Triangle.

Here are a few happening this weekend:

Boom Unit Brass Band at The Bullpen - Boom Unit Brass Band and Paperhand Puppet Intervention kick off the celebration Friday night with a second line from the downtown Bull statue to the Bullpen, where there will be live music.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler - Hummingbird Chef/Owner Coleen Speaks is bringing a little bit of her New Orleans to Raleigh on Sunday with a seafood boil and live music.

Mardi Gras - Head to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences' Nature Research Center on Friday night for this adults only bash featuring live music, cajun cuisine and more fun.

Wake Forest Mardi Gras Festival - This annual family-friendly festival is Saturday in downtown Wake Forest. There will be a walking parade, costume contests and children's activities.

Samedi Gras - Kick off Fat Saturday night New Orleans' style with the area's most beloved second line band, the Bulltown Strutters and Ellis Dyson and the Shambles. There will also be a bowl of free red beans and rice for the first 100 people through the door. The event is 8 p.m. at the Murphey School in Durham. Tickets are $12. All proceeds benefit Durham Mardi Gras to help provide a free and open Fat Tuesday for all of Durham.

Downtown Cary Food and Flea - Shop antiques, crafts and art, while enjoying craft beer, coffee and food truck cuisine at this monthly hand-made artisan and vintage market in Cary on Sunday.

Valentine's Day Pop-Up Market - Joe Van Gogh coffee shop hosts this market Sunday afternoon. There will be 10 local vendors selling jewelry, clothing, flowers, prints, pottery, greeting cards, vintage, essential oils and more.

Corks and Cakes - The Wine Feed will be pairing wines with light, fluffy cupcakes from The Cupcake Shoppe on Sunday. Flights will include four wines paired with Valentine's Day themed mini-cupcakes for $18. Tickets can be purchased in advance.

Paws and Pours - BottleMixx's annual wine-tasting event for Second Chance Pet Adoptions is Saturday. Enjoy light snacks, tasting wine and meeting with pets that need forever homes. Tickets are $20 and proceeds go Second Chance.

February Hops & Shop Market - Head to the Raleigh Beer Garden on Saturday between 1 and 5 p.m. for a huge vendor market, and, of course, beer.

Valentine's Carnival Night with Your Pup - Enjoy an exclusive date night with your dog at Woofinwaggle on Friday night with a fitness station, dog nail painting, dog cake, tasty human treats, a photo booth and more. You can even paint a heart on your dog's fur.

Eddie Izzard - The stand-up comedian and actor will be performing at Carolina Theatre of Durham Friday night.

Robert Plant - Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters play a sold out show Friday night at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.

The Harlem Globetrotters - This family-friendly basketball exhibition features high-flying dunks and lots of comedy. See the Globetrotters on Sunday at PNC Arena.

Tet Vietnamese New Year Celebration - The Vietnamese-American Association of Raleigh is hosting its annual Tết celebration at Dorton Arena Saturday. There will be cultural performances, lion dance, traditional Vietnamese food, and children's games.

For the Love of Art Auction and Gala - The Visual Art Exchance hosts its 35th annual gala Saturday night at Raleigh Marriott City Center.

Carolina Ballet's Romeo and Juliet - See Shakespeare’s tale of the “star-crossed lovers” at Fletcher Opera Theater. Shows run through Feb. 18.

Little Shop of Horrors - Raleigh Little Theatre presents this tale of meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn and a foul-mouthed singing plant. The show runs through Feb. 25.

Tartuffe - Playmakers presents this show about a man of the house who has lost is mind. This modern interpretation of Molière’s most popular play is as intense and incisive as the day it was written, and just as entertaining.